Chapter 10: Rise of Chaos

It's not every day you get a mission being undercover in a dense urban area, most notably in San Fransisco out of all places, and this place is swarming with people. Terry doesn't quite like the setting, too many places for foreign operatives to hide in while also being able to blend in with the crowds. And that noxious noise of constant honking and police sirens, from the frown on his face it's visible how much he dislikes the situation.

On the other hand, perhaps, on the other side of the street, Jill is seen with a wide grin of excitement and confidence. Instead of seeing a dense and dangerous urban environment, she sees a playground. Terry always knew her to be a monkey, but never actually seen her being so happy in such a place he dislikes. Nevertheless, he can't have much say about it since orders are orders, and working in a shadowy organization already took his rights to expressing complaints at his supervisors.

His comms perked up with a bright and joyous 'ping' "Prophet 1, the target is in the pit, you and Prophet 2 may proceed, over." A voice spoke to him through the intercom, he quickly pressed the button on the side of the device that's planted on his right ear to respond to the voice.

"Roger that Eagle, the target is in the pit and the Prophets are moving out, over," Terry replied to the voice, reciting what has been spoken by the voice. By then Jill's voice came on Terry's intercom.

A girlish giggle came first, then Jill's voice came next. "Well, we're finally gonna get the punk now huh? Can't wait to punch his teeth in" Terry tried to bump in but he's cut over by Eagle on the three-way intercom.

"Don't get too fixated on getting revenge Prophet 2, the objective is to extract information from the agent, but once that is done you are free to do whatever you want with him, over"

Terry cleared his throat loud enough for the two individuals to hear, and immediately jump in then quickly end the conversation between the two. "Yeah, let's stop the chit-chat, let's move Jill, over and out" Terry establishes eye contact with Jill who quickly notices him, she confirms with a nod and smirk before turning and quickly disappearing within the crowd. He sighed, she loves to do that, and so he slipped between the busy sidewalk and follow the flow of people, using them to blend in and not arouse suspicion.

Quite a simple job, get in, secure the agent, extract information from the agent, and eliminate the target, easy to do, and can't be messed up badly. As they traversed the city's streets, crossing the road and bumping into quite a bit of people in the rush hour, Terry came up to an apartment building's main entrance. "I'm outside the building, Jill where are you?" Terry asked through the intercom, glancing around trying to find his partner but she's nowhere to be found.

Then the intercom went to live again. "I'm at the fire escape, in case the bastard wants to escape through here I'll grab his ass" She boldly stated, he could imagine that mischievous grin on her face when she told him about that. No matter what, the time is now and he enters the apartment building and sidesteps to let an occupant out. He looked around the mailboxes, he figured there must be something in the target's box, perhaps crucial information, so he got the box open and shuffled through the mail inside. Not much of anything really, except for a little envelope with writing, claiming the envelope to be containing a check. He open up the letter and sure enough, it's a check for 75.000 dollars.

He needs to move quickly now, the target could already know they're out to get him. He swiftly pockets the check and jogs up the stairs while holding onto the railings, slipping past another occupant. He took a great look at the man's face but it's not the target, good, he didn't want him to slip past by him in plain sight. He continues up the series of stairs passing several floors before finally arriving on the 6th floor. Once he sets foot in the hallway his intercom comes on again. "Are you there yet? Slowpoke" Jill asks through it while slipping in a bit of sarcasm.

That got a chuckle out of Terry and replied to the question. "Going up a set of stairs is not my specialty Jill, give me some slack" Once he answered he walked up to the agent's door, keeping some distance away in case his voice is heard, the buildings around these parts are notorious for their thin walls, literally no privacy when doing the business.

"Well I suppose that's right, you were with the FBI so that makes you a creep by sitting on your ass spying on people through their laptop webcam" Jill retorted back, teasing Terry from his previous job as an FBI Agent and slipping in the most common stereotype that comes with that line of job.

"Shut up" He quickly replied, rather wholeheartedly and jokingly as well, he does wonder why he didn't just join the UIU, sure the department has been underfunded for years now but it's much easier than what he is doing now. He then starts moving his fist up to the door and knocking on it a couple of times. "Eagle, The Prophets are in the lion's lair"

"Copy, you are free to proceed, over"

Terry patiently waits outside, facing the door with his arms folded around his back, fixing his collar once before setting his hands back. He glances to his left and out the window, gazing at the other building across the street, then suddenly the door opens and he straightens up. A middle-aged man, around thirty to forty years old had opened the door with a grim look on his face. Terry and the man's heights are around the same with Terry slightly taller because of his boots.

"What is it? Are you here to clean the pipes?" The man asks Terry with a dissatisfied look and squinting eyes, Terry quickly realizes that the man doesn't trust him. It's the type of look you give to a shady salesman that arrives at your door, eyeing the salesman from head to toe with a skeptical look.

Terry clears his throat and takes out a business card from within his leather jacket and holds it up to the man which is the card for a well-known local plumbing company. "Yes! That is correct sir we are from Bodhi's Water and Pipes, we're sent here to fix your leaky pipes" Terry answered the man's question with a face full of confidence and a matched tone of voice, of course, the card is forged and look like the real thing, you can't tell a difference.

The man leaned forward and looked down the hallway and towards the stairwell, then stood straight once again and looked back at Terry. "Where's the rest of your crew then? Where's your equipment?" He questioned Terry with a stern tone, still very skeptical.

"Oh they're all back downstairs at the truck sir, I'm here to check how severe it is" This isn't working, this is not working. The man's face does not change one bit and of course, it's now filled with disbelief and disgust.

They both stared at each other for a solid minute before the man tried to hurriedly close the door on Terry, but Terry caught the closing door just in time with his foot and forcefully pushed open the door and sent the man staggering back into the room. Terry slams the door as the man appears to start running to a phone, Terry reacts quickly and tackles the man when he's inches away from getting the phone. The man groans in pain and Terry responds by groaning in annoyance.

The man leans back and elbows Terry on his side that sends him rolling off the man, sending him to hiss in pain. The man quickly gets up and gets onto Terry's stomach and attempts to punch Terry with a side swing but Terry blocked it just in time and wrapped his arm around the man's and twisted it quickly. The man yelled from the twisting of his arm and pulled Terry up by his collar and threw him back against the wall using the man's free arm.

Picture frames fall to the floor and furniture falls aside, Terry recovers from being thrown back but suffers another hit to the gut, he retaliates by punching the man on the side of his face that makes him lean from the force. Terry uses the opportunity to grab the phone the man attempted to take and throws it onto the floor, stomping it into pieces with his boots. The man, furious, charges Terry with a war cry but Terry swiftly side-steps out of the way and slips in a punch to the man's gut. Grabbing the back of his collar, Terry turns the man around and punches him square in the face with a solid punch that successfully knocks the man unconscious and Terry stands victorious.

He heard a slow clap and snapped his attention to the source of the noise, craning his neck around to see Jill sitting in the window, slowly clapping for Terry's victory against his assailant. "Good job!" Jill compliments him.

Terry, out of breath and breathing heavily, retorted by saying. "You're late" He doesn't look happy that his long-time partner decides to just watch rather than help out, but he shouldn't have expected something like that from Jill.

Jill laughed and hopped out the window frame and into the apartment, walking up to Terry with her signature grin. "Well, I was watching and wanted to get some popcorn" Then Jill looked down at the man and sarcastically sighs in disappointment. "But then I realized the show's already over."

"Yeah, I can handle myself" He justified, massaging his right shoulder with another hiss of pain followed by him moving his arm, stretching it out to ease the pain to the muscles.

Jill laughs once again and lightly punches his shoulder playfully which he didn't receive well. "I know you can, who said you can't? C'mon now we need to wake him up" She said, going back on the topic while slightly kicking the unconscious man.

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Special Region, 1200 Hours.

Lelei, Kato, and Tuka stood behind a building, facing the big dome that is covering the magical gate, the bridge between two worlds that brought these advanced people into Falmart. The tall building gave the three of them a cool shade, shielding them from the scorching hot sun that is at its height during this time. They stood in awe while Lelei watched carefully.

In front of them are rows of these metal elephants, "Tanks" The soldiers call them. They are beasts capable of destroying the tallest walls, capable of outrunning any man on foot, at least that's what Kato and Tuka believed, as for Lelei she is still skeptical about it. They are lining up, facing the massive doors that led into the dome with their engines roaring with dust kicking up into the air. A large and loud beep is heard that surprised Tuka, making her yelp in response, then the doors slowly slide open letting sunlight and air to flow into the dome. They could see it, the silhouette of the gate with all of its glory, a gift from the gods and goddesses to the mortal realm but as destiny calls it, they can only catch a glimpse of the mighty portal that leads to the mysterious world these people came from. "Interesting" Lelei murmured as the three of them watched the tanks slowly moved, its metal wheels driving the beast forward, and one by one, the tanks disappear into the portal.

In the distance, Richard and Roomy stood tall, watching the three locals from the roof of the Operational Headquarters with Richard holding a clipboard and a pen. They also watch the M1A2 Abrams Tanks go through the portal and return to Earth and drive on top of US Soil, at least that's what the civilians think. Richard had been informed of the inventory replacement for the operation because he is an Officer, twelve of the twenty-three Abrams that was used to spearhead the charge into the gate is recalled back, and they are going to be replaced by the much smaller, but still packs a punch, M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle.

This decision came to be as reports from the recon teams returned to the hands of Operation High Command, they reviewed the combat capability of the Empire and concluded that having an entire Tank Battalion on stand-by is a bit overkill to fight essentially Ancient Romans and opted for a Tank Squadron and a Mechanized Infantry Unit. For many, this decision is received quite well, the less rationing of fuel in future operations and no more tanks hogging the storage hangars for more motor pools and small-arms storage.

Richard finished writing into the document that's on the clipboard and took it off, gave it to Richard. "Here, the paperwork for us to get a Bradley and it's accompanying crew, review it again in case I'm being a dumbass and miswritten something" Miswriting paperwork is hellish for a soldier, not only they've written it up for hours, if they make a mistake they'll have to go on a wild goose chase trying to get the thing they want.

"Roger that, Lieutenant" And Roomy walked off to go to the quartermaster and put in the paperwork, while Richard sighed and stared at the three locals, Lelei, Tuka, and Kato. Wizards and Magic-Users, unbelievable how something like that is very common from his perspective. And to be perfectly honest with himself, the last few days just felt like a fever dream, not like the entirety of his time with the Foundation isn't one, this one feels different somehow. He sighed and shook his head, he needs to take a breather and figured smoking is not the way to go right now. There are beautiful forests and free-flowing rivers to relax at, and Tuka even said there are many fairies in the woods which he didn't entirely believe, but it's worth a shot.

He leased a Humvee from the quartermaster and told everyone he passed by that he's going to go check the forest beside the base for whatever reason he could think of, he couldn't bother with thinking of a solid reason and he knows he'll get his ass chewed out later by the Major, but he just hopes this little camping trip to the forest is worth it. He got the key to a single scout Humvee, and went into the driver seat, not much equipment here except for a long-range radio and storage boxes that filled the front side seat, this won't be a problem.

He started up the engine and sighed again, turning the steering wheel and lightly pushing on the gas, he found himself driving out from the gates of the Fort and out to the open plains. Regardless of the scorching sun, he looked out the window and saw rows upon rows of flowers and tall grass and he must say they are beautiful. Getting his attention back onto the dirt road, he fixed his hair by combing it with his fingers and hand, looking around again and finally seeing the forest he wanted to go into and just relax at. He turned left on an intersection and began to slowly drive off to the side of the road right on the outskirts of the forest.

He puts his Humvee into a complete stop and turns off the engine, he opens the door and steps out onto the fresh green grass, and stretches his back while taking a deep breath, the air as clean as ever in this perfect world. Pocketing the keys he would start walking into the forest, not following a path or with any reason because what he wants right now is peace and to enjoy this fresh and brand new feeling. "Oh, Trisha… I would do anything for you to be here…." He murmured to himself as his hands brush against the bushes.

But not even a minute in he hears rustling from the bushes in front of him, he kept his hand over his holstered pistol in case it's a wolf or rabid dog. He so suddenly got knocked back onto the ground, feeling the thing pouncing on his chest and stomach. He groaned and opened his eyes while taking hold of his pistol's handle, what he sees makes most of his brain cells take a vacation. A child wearing some sort of gothic cosplay from those types of anime, and what surprises him, even more, is that she's carrying with her a giant ax. He can't move, he's trying to understand the situation that's presented in front of him, training didn't prepare him for confronting children carrying halberds inside forests!

He hears a low giggle and looked up to see the child's face, filled with excitement and giving him that… suggestive look with on finger on her lips. "Ah~ So you're one of the rumored men-in-black, I'm impressed by your actions~" Sounds like a child too, 'what the fuck', that's what he could think about. He quickly shook his head around to get a hang of himself, alright, a little cosplay girl is sitting on your stomach, he should retain some attitude of professionalism.

"E-excuse me, little girl but you're… limiting me" He doesn't know what to say! It's a little girl so he can't be harsh, but he also can't be in this position!

The girl continues to stare with her sadistic smile, then giggled after he finished talking. The girl then leaned forward, now practically lying on his chest as their faces are inches away from one another, and Richard sweats. "Why in such a rush~? I think we can stay here for a while, no~?" The girl spoke to him, again, this is making him super uncomfortable.

He has no choice, he forcefully pushed the girl off to the side and hurriedly stood up, taking out his pistol but not aiming it at the girl, he doesn't expect this to go that heated but he should still be prepared nonetheless, and hopefully by him taking his pistol out would make the girl understand to not approach him or pounce him. "Listen, little girl, I do not wish to harm you but you must leave, " He warned the girl that's stood there, finger on her lips while her other hand holds the halberd, he doesn't enjoy this vibe.

It does remind him of being in some sort of Mexican standoff, but this thought doesn't help him with his uneasiness. The girl once again giggled and weirdly enough licked her finger, what is she trying to imply? It sent shivers up his spine. "Come on now~ i just want to play!" The girl replied with a girly and whiny tone. Something tells Richard that this is not an innocent little girl. Maybe some sort of spy from the Empire? Medusa in disguise? No, wait! What is he thinking!?

His train of thought is abruptly stopped when a gust of wind hit his body and the girl had run past him, he turned around to see the girl in the air, ready to swing the giant halberd and chop him in half. Instinctively he ducked, just narrowly missing his head. He finally aimed his pistol up at the girl and jumped back to keep some distance. "I don't want to cause you any harm!" He called out to her once again but the girl charges him, skidding to a stop in front of him and before he could react, kicked the gun from his hands which also sent him staggering backward.

So this is how it is huh, hand-to-hand combat. He must say he's good at it but not as great as Cassie's but he hoped it's good enough to not get him killed. The girl ducked down and spun around on one leg, the other stretched out in an attempt to swipe his legs, but luckily he jumped in the nick of time and not wanting this to keep going. He jumped forward and tackle the little girl. A punching battle ensued as the girl repeatedly punch him in the face but he returned the sentiment the same way.

In the end, he got a hold of her hands, pinning them down onto the ground and using his body weight to keep her down as well. Him on top, her on the bottom. "Enough! I don't know what you are trying to do but you are under arrest!" He declared. out at the now pinned girl, still wearing a sadistic and smug smile even after being defeated.

"Lieutenant!?" He heard someone call him out by his rank, he looked to the side to the way out of the forest and to the road to find Josh standing there with a bewildered look, holding a clipboard and some papers. "What…. Are you doing with that girl?"

Richard looked at the girl and looked down at the position they are in, uh oh, Richard finally realized that Josh just caught them in a less favorable position if taken out of context. Richard then faced Josh again. "I can explain."